Log raft and method of forming the same



June 3 I924.

w '0. R. ALTREE LOG RAFT AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME iled June 19', 1923 INVENTOR Olive/'16. fl/free.

Patented June 3, 1924.

NT oFFlcE.

OLIVER R. ALTREE, OF TOLEDO, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GUY ROBERTS,- OF TOLEDO, OREGON.

LOG RAFT AND METHOD OF FORMING THE Application filed June 19, 1923. Serial no. 646,397.

TO (AN whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER R. AL REE, a citizen of the United States, residing at T0- ledo, in the county of Lincoln and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Log Rafts and Methods of Forming the Same, of which the following is a specification. v

The invention resides in the provision of an improved type of log raft and the improved method of forming the same whereby a flexible structure is produced which is adaptable for use as well in shallow as in deep rivers or upon the ocean.

The invention has for its object to provide a raft of the type stated which is of a flexible nature and such as will readily follow the trend of the tow line or a ships.

hawser so as to be especially adaptable to or for use in shallow, crooked and narrow channels or other impediments.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange and join the logs in flexible relation with each other and with the tow line as to insure the safety of the logs in any stress of weather, on bars or on the ocean, and in a manner whereby danger of pulling the raft apart is reduced to the minimum.

The invention still further has for its object to so arrange the raft of logs that a greater number thereof, on the basis of per thousand feet, can be towed to the given horsepower, than by methods heretofore employed, and in a manner whereby all slack in the raft is taken up during the towing action.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the invention resides in those novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described. then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 is a detail cross section of the raft taken across the same at the position of one of the swiftering means.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the manner of building up the raft and its connection to the towing medium.

Figure at is a diagrammatic plan View figures, 1 indicatesthe tow line, which may be in the nature of a hawser'or a towing cable, the same being securedat one end in any approved manner to the usual boat 2 or other towing medium, and at its-opposite end to a pair of wedge logs 3. The fore ends of the wedge logs 3- are secured tothe tow line 1, as at 4, and the rear ends thereof are spaced apart by a spar pole 5 so that the position of the wedge logs?) attheend of the tow line 1 is in the nature of an angled wedge,-see Figure 1. The spar pole '5 is secured at its opposite ends to the wedge logs in any approved manner, for example by staples 6.

The logs 7 from which the body ofthe raft is formed are disposed at opposite sides of the centrally disposed tow line 1 and in a manner whereby they will be positioned in parallel relation with the wedge logs 3' at the respective side and in angled relation with the logs -7 at the opposite sides of the tow line, so that all of the logs at either side of the tow line will be in approximately parallel relation one with the other, but in angled relation with the logs at the opposite sides of the tow line.

The logs 7 are connected to the tow line 1 by short cable lengths 8 which aresecured to the legs 7, as at 10, by stapling or by other securing means, and to rings 9 slidably mounted upon the tow line. By thus connecting the logs 7 to the tow line 1 by short cable lengths the logs are prevented from over-riding during the towing action, and by reason of the tow'line being secured at its end to the wedge logs 3, and by reason of ,the slidable connection 8-49 of the logs 7 with the tow line 1, the logs 7 are caused to force backward along the tow line against the wedge logs 3 to thereby take up all slack in the raft during the towing action, see Figure 1.

By reference to Figure 3 it will be observed that in the building of the raft the wedge logs 3 are first secured to the end of the tow line 1 and properly spaced apart,

after which the logs 7 which form the body of the raft will be coupled with the tow line in the manner above described, commencing with the rear connection of the tow line with the wedge logs, forwardly toward the end of the tow line which is connected to the towing medium. I

The foremost pair of logs 7 are coupled with the tow line 1 by ropes or cables indi cated at 11 and this connection of the foremost logs 7 may be a slidable connection with the tow line or a fixed connection as is desired.

For flexibly connecting the outer ends of the logs 7 to their relation with each other and with the tow line 1, I provide a single connecting line 12 which extends across the rear of the raft, as at 18, and approximately in a parallel relation one side thereof with the other forwardly across the ends of the logs 7, to each of which the line 12 is-connected, fixedly or slidably as may be deslred, as at 14. From the connection 14 of the line 12 with the foremost logs 7 the said line converges, as at 15, toward the tow line in a degree approximately the angle of each of the oppositely disposed foremost logs 7 and these converging portions 15 of the line 12 are staple connected or otherwise secured, as at 16, to a ring 17 slidably on the tow line 1, see Figure 1.

By reason of the connections 8-9 and the .line connections 12-14 of the logs 7 with the towing line 1 with each other and with the wedge logs 3, a flexible structure is provided which contributes to insure the safety of the logs being towed in any stress of weather. either in deep water travel or in shallow river.

For otherwise flexibly securing the logs together and with the tow line 1. and for posi tively holding the logs to their angled relation at opposite sides of the tow .line 1. I provide proper swiftering means 18 at suitable intervals along the log raft, see Figure 1. The swiftering means is in the nature of a cross rope or cable which is woven in and out around the logs in their angled relation and across the raft, the ends 19 thereof being secured by a clip clamp 20, or other clamping device, to the tow line, see Figures 1 and 2.

While I have illustrated in Figure 1 a log raft composed of logs of approximately the same length it will be readily understooi'l that the raft may be composed of logs of varied lengths in which case I desire it unden stood that the logs of the greatest lengths will, in accordance with the ideas of my in vention, be positioned rearwardly of the raft and those of successively decreasing length be positioned successively forward thereof, as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 4. This method of positioning the smallest logs front and the largest logs toward the rear aids in the flexibility of the raft and also in the stream line effect during the towing action which, together with the tow line,makes it possible to tow a greater number of logs on a basis of per thousand foot than can be towed to the given horsepower by the usual methods now employed.

By swiftering the logs as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the logs are effectively held to their angled relation with each other and with the tow line and. insures the safety of the logs in any stress of weather.

By reason of the connection of the tow line with the wedge logs and the slidable connection of the logs forming the body of the raft with the tow line, the draft action on the tow line is distributed at the rear end of the raft in a manner whereby all fastenings are tightened during the draft action and the possibility of pulling the raft apart is reduced to the minimum.

It will also be observed from the drawing that while a flexible structure of the log raft is there shown, such as is adaptable for use in any kind of weather or water conditions, it will be observed that the raft there shown is especially adaptable for use in shallow water where treacherous bars are likely to be encountered.

While I have made it clear that the connections 11 of the foremost logs 7 with the tow line, and those 14 of the logs 7 with the line 12, may be either fixed connections or slidable connections. I desire it to be understood that in the full embodiment of the ideas of my invention, both of the means of connection are slidable. By thus slidably connecting the logs '7 as at 9 and 11 to the tow line, and as at 1 1 to the connecting line 12, the logs are allowed to slide back against the wedge logs 3 on which the towing energy is exerted. Thus all slack is taken up during the draft action and, by reason of the slidable connections 11 and 17 of the line 12, flexure of the logs is permitted, to form the raft into a vertebrae-like structure capable of lateral and up and down fiexure. thus allowing the same to readily follow the trend of the tow line. From the foregoing it is readily apparent that the invention is especially adapted to use in shallow, narrow and crooked waters.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the novel details of construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

What I claim is:

1. A method of rafting logs which consists of flexibly coupling the logs to be transported together in angled relation with each other along a centrally disposed towing line and with their converging ends substantially interlocking, the said towing line being located on a plane above the interlocksists in coupling the logs to be transported.

in angled and flexible relation with each other and with a centrally disposed towing line, the said line being secured in a manner for exerting its towing energy only at the rear end of the load to be towed.

3. A method of rafting logs which consists in coupling the logs to be transported in angled and flexible relation with each other and with a centrally disposed towing line, the said line being secured in a. manner for exerting its towing energy only at the rear end of the load to be towed, and the utilization of a rigid means for holding the rearmost logs in their angled relation.

4. A method of rafting logs which consists in the coupling of a pair of wedge logs together in angled relation, the securing of the wedge logs upon a towing line, and flexibly coupling the logs to be towed to the tow line in angled pairs and in close relation in advance of the wedge logs.

5. A method of rafting logs which consists in the coupling of a pair of wedge logs together in angled relation, the securing of the wedge logs upon a towing line, flexibly coupling the logs to be towed to the tow line in advance of the wedge logs in angled pairs and in close relation and the utilization of means connected to the logs and to the tow line for holding the logs in their angled relation.

6. A method of rafting logs which consists of disposing a. plurality of logs at each side of a cent-rally disposed towing line those at each side being in parallel relation with each other and in angled relation with those on the opposite side, connecting the inner ends of the logs to the tow line, and flexibly connecting the outer ends of said logs together and to the tow line, the said towing line being secured to the rearmostlogs only, that its towing energy be exerted at that point.

7 .,A method of rafting logs which con sists in the coupling of a pair of wedge logs together in angled relation, the securing of the wedge logs to a tow line, flexibly-slidably connecting the inner ends of a plurality of logs to be towed at each side of the tow line those at each side being in parallel relation with each other and in angled relation with those of the opposite side, flexibly connecting the outer ends of the logs to be towed by a single line to each other and to the tow line, and the weaving at intervals along the raft of cross lines and the securing of the ends thereof to each other and to the tow line for retaining the angled relation of the towed logs.

8. A method of rafting logs which consists of flexibly coupling the logs to be transported together in angled relation with each other along a centrally disposed towing line, the logs of greatest length being disposed toward the end of the raft and those of successively'lesser length being disposed successively in advance of those of greatest length, the said towing line being secured to the largest rearmost logsonly, that its towing energy be exertedat that point.

9. A. method of rafting logs which consists in the coupling of a pair of wedge logs together in angled relation, the securing of the wedge logs to-a tow line, flexibly-slidably connecting the inner ends of a plurality of logs to be towed at eachside of the tow line those at each side being in parallel re lation with each other and in angled relation with those of the opposite side, flexibly connecting the outer ends of the logs to be towed by a single line to each other and to the tow line, and the weaving at intervals along the raft of cross lines and the securing of the ends thereof to each other and to the tow line for retaining the angled relation of the towed logs, the logs of greatest length being disposed toward the end of the raft and those of successively lesser length being disposed successively in advance of those of greatest length.

10. In a log raft, a tow line, wedge logs secured to the end of the tow line, means for holding the wedge logs in angled relation, logs disposed at each side of the tow line in angled relation with those of the op posite side and in parallel relation with the wedge log of the respective side, means for flexibly connecting the logs to the tow line and to each other.

11. In a log raft, a tow line, wedge logs secured to the end of the tow line, means for holding the wedge logs in angled relation, logs disposed at each side of the tow line in advanc of the wedge logs and means for slidably connectin the same to the tow line.

12. In a log ral t, a tow line, wedge logs serured to the end of the tow line, means for holding the wedge logs in angled relation, logs disposed at each side of the tow line in angled relation with the same, and the logs at the opposite side and in advance of the wedge logs, means for slidably connecting the logs to the tow line, means for flexibly connecting the outer ends of the logs together and to the tow line, and means for swiftering the logs at intervals in their angled relation.

13. The method of rafting logs which consists in positioning the logs in close angular relation to the line of draft, holding the logs in such position while allowing a limited amount of movement between adjacent logs for fiexure of the raft, and securing the said draft line to the rearmost logs only that its towing energy be exerted at that point.

&

M. The method of rafting logs which consists in closely positioning the logs in angular relation to the line of draft, holding; the logs in such position while allowing a limited amount of movement between adjacent logs for flexule of the raft and applying drat'tpull along a mid-longitudinal line throi'lgzh the raft and in the direction of the angle of the logs, the said draft pull being exerted at the rearmost end only of the raft.

15. A log raft comprising a toW line, a pair of logs each having one end connected to the end of said tow line and means to hold said logs to diverge from the tow line, other logs arranged in advance of the said pair of logs each connected at one of their ends to the tow line and adapted to assume diverging positions with relation to the tow line in towing, and means for holding said logs in their diverging positions.

16. i log ral't comprising a tow line, a pair of logs each having one end connected to the end of said tow line and means to hold said logs to diverge from the tow line, other logs arranged in advance of said pair of logs each slidahly connected at one of their ends to the tow line and adapted to assume diverging positions with relation to the tow line in towing, and means for holding said logs in their diverging positions.

OLIVER R. ALTREE. 

